Rojava and the future of Syria at Växjö City of Refuge

As Syria undergoes a process of transformative change and uncertainty, the event explored the role of Rojava’s potential role in the country’s future as well as the challenges it faces being located at the intersection between Syria and Turkey. The programme featured speeches, conversations, and film screenings aimed at shedding light on various aspects of the topic while expressing solidarity with Rojava.

The speakers at the event were Aslı Ceren Aslan, a journalist, writer, activist and former ICORN resident in Växjö and writer and activist Sara Afrasiyabi. In addition, journalist, women’s rights activist Hêlan Çiya (currently in ICORN residence in Malmö) and writer, journalist, activist and Parvin Ardalan (former ICORN resident in Malmö) contributed with texts, alongside Siamak Raji. Additional video and audio contributions came from Kurdo Baksi, Balsam Karam, Fatma Savcı, and Rojavakommittéerna, who gave readings and speeches.

During the event, Aslı Ceren Aslan highlighted Rojava’s critical role in contributing to a democratic future for Syria:

'Despite his moderate statements since the first day of the fall of the Assad regime, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), represented by al-Julani, does not offer Syria a promising future, especially for women, LGBTQI+ people, and ethnic and religious minorities. At a time when Syria is evolving from a self-professed secular dictatorship to a radical Islamic dictatorship, there is an important alternative for the future of the country other than these two governance approaches: Rojava.

Governed by democratic principles with a focus on women’s liberation and ecological sustainability, Rojava offers hope not only for Syria’s people but also for others across the region suffering under oppressive regimes.

Yet, the Turkish state’s repeated attempts to invade Rojava threaten this vision. Recent attacks, including the killing of journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin on December 19 2024, and six people during a vigil at Tişrin Dam on January 18 2025, underscore these dangers.’

Aslan underscored the interconnected nature of Turkey’s domestic policies of oppression and its aggression towards Rojava, calling it a sum of anti-democratic, anti-women, and anti-LGBTQ+ policies reflected in its foreign policy agenda.

Calling for international solidarity for Rojava, Aslan said:

'The event at The House of Free Speech, where many journalists, writers, and actvists participated and sent messages of solidarity, emphasises the regional and international importance of Rojava.

Defending Rojava means defending democracy, women’s and LGBTQI+ rights against the abandonment of Syria to a jihadist organisation, the repressive policies of Turkey, and the rise of far-right ideologies globally.

For this reason, international solidarity with Rojava is more important than ever. Defending Rojava means defending women, life, and freedom.'

Organised by Växjö ICORN City of Refuge, the event was part of a series addressing freedom of expression, human rights, and democracy.